Every year, millions of tourists and vacation goers flock to the beautiful state of Hawaii. Some may go to enjoy the incredible 200-plus miles of coastline and beaches. Others may be opting for a more inland excursion at one of Hawaii’s national parks. Either way, the island chain’s tropical climate and breathtaking landscape has been a calling for people with one thing in common, and that is to escape their reality for a taste of paradise.
But for many victims and families of the Missing and Murdered Native Hawaiian Women and Girls crisis (MMNHWG), there is no escape, and in this place where rest and relaxation begin for so many, the hurt and pain of those victims may never end. Their pride and love for their native land, at times, must be overshadowed by their fight for answers and justice. One of these warriors leading that charge is Bellator MMA fighter and former flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane.
Macfarlane will make her 14th Bellator appearance this Saturday, April 22, at Bellator 295, which takes place at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in her native Honolulu and airs on Showtime. This will also be her fourth fight in her hometown.
“I love fighting back home” Macfarlane told MMA Underground.
Victorious in her first two appearances there, after experiencing loss in her last fight in Hawaii, Macfarlane says she feels a lot of the pressure and anxiety is off her shoulders heading into Bellator 295.
“Experiencing that, I see it really doesn’t matter if I win or lose at home,” Macfarlane said. “My family still loves me, the fans still love me, and Hawaii (fans) are not bandwagoners – they are ride or dies.”
Despite her clear excitement for the contest, facing Japanese veteran Kana Watanabe (11-1-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA), the conversation shifted when Macfarlane (12-2 MMA, 11-2 BMMA) is about her walkout plans for this upcoming fight. Each time she’s entered the cage in Hawaii, Macfarlane has been surrounded by pageantry, but it all comes with a purpose. “The Iliminator” knows she’s fighting for much more than what happens in the cage on Saturday night.
“I call this the invisible crisis of Hawaii,” she explained, “It actually is an epidemic. It’s Missing and Murdered Native Hawaiian Women and Girls), which is an epidemic you might be familiar with. It’s more commonly known as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).”
MMIW is a widespread epidemic of violence against Indigenous women, that as Macfarlane explained, knows no borders.
“It started in Canada, (then) moved to North America,” Macfarlane said. “It is a global issue, but statistically, Native Women face the highest rate of violence of any demographic.”
An MMNHWG Task Force Report from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs states that 84.3 percent of Indigenous women will experience violence in their lifetime, and as Macfarlane explained, these atrocities unfortunately hold true in her home state of Hawaii for the native women and girls there.
“We are the most sex-trafficked, we face the highest rates of violence, sexual abuse and sexual assault of any other demographic,” Macfarlane said.
This Saturday, she will enter the Bellator cage looking to represent most deeply hurt by MMIW and MMNIHWG.
“This next walkout, this next fight, is dedicated to survivors and those affected by this epidemic,” Macfarlane said.
The 33-year-old Macfarlane, who admittedly is entering the twilight years of her MMA career, now sees it as her calling to shed a light on this crisis. One way she has found to bring awareness to issues she finds most meaningful is through her pre-fight walk to the ring.
“All of my walkouts shed light on some kind of issue,” Macfarlane said.
Macfarlane was quick to give Bellator MMA praise for always supporting her and giving her the platform to bring awareness to causes she holds dear.
“They are 100 percent behind whatever message I’m trying to share with the audience,” Macfarlane said. “A lot of times, it’s very heavy, deep messages, cultural messages, political messages, but they have my back.”
Another way she will look to bring awareness to MMNHWG and MMIW this weekend is through her fight shirts, which are also attached to her own nonprofit organization, the Na Wahine Toa Foundation.
“I’m actually wearing my fight shirt, which is in tribute to this issue” she explained. “The red handprint symbolizes MMIW.”
She further revealed that the fight shirt design is also inscribed with a quote at the bottom.
“The caption says Oia Mau Wau Ma’Ane’I, which translates in Hawaiian to ‘I’m still here,’” Macfarlane explained.
“These shirts are not just a tool to further raise awareness to this epidemic, but they also will help Macfarlane’s nonprofit, which is also doing incredible work for those affected by MMIW.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds goes towards my nonprofit, which works with these communities,” Macfarlane explained. “I teach self-defense seminars to native communities and The Women Nation.”
Her organization also does an annual retreat for women in Hawaii.
“I accept global applicants,” she explained. “It’s not just Native American or Native Hawaiian who can apply, but I take these women to O’ahu, my home island, for one week. It’s an intercultural exchange. It’s (also) intergenerational, so there’s no age limit. I do teach them self-defense and health and wellness, but it really is more of a healing and empowering retreat for women.”
The third annual O’ahu Women’s Retreat will run from July 18-25, and registration is still open. There is also a scholarship, which you can apply for if you need financial assistance. For fight shirts and retreat info visit her website, Ilimanator.com.
